Eyeglass construction



June 27, 1933.. G, E NERNEY ,95,577

EYEGLAss CONSTRUCTION Filed Feb. 12, 1929 JW/ Jim.

22 y////////l Z ATTQRNEY Fatented June 27, 1933 f telas?? arrasar'l -rics GEORGE E. NERNEY, or ATTLEBORO, MASSACHUSETTS, Assrefivoie To BAY sTATE OPTICAL COMPANY, A CORPORATION OrMAri-rn EYEGLAss cONsTaUcTrON Y Appleationrled February 12, 1929. Serial No. 339,348.

This invention relates to eyeglass construction and more particularly to the construction of eyeglasses held in position by swinging levers or the like.

One of the objects thereof is to provide a simple and practical construction of the above nature characterized by a high degree of strength and rigidity in use. Another object is to provide a construction of the above nature which shall be compact and self-contained and of attractive appearance. Another object is to provide a construction of the above nature in whichthe partsy are arranged for efficient and dependable action and the r lenses firmly held in an advantageous position. Other objects will be in partobvious and in part pointed out hereinafter.

The invention accordingly consists in the features of construction, combinations of elements, and arrangements of parts as will be exemplified inAV the structure to be hereinafter described and the scope of the application of which will be indicated in the following claims. i

In the accompanying drawing, in which is shown one or more of various possible embodiments of the several features of this invention, f l 1 f Figure 1 isa front elevation partlally in i section along the line 1-1 of Fig. 2; Fig. 2 is a plan partially in section alongthe line 2-2 of Fig. 1;

Fig. 3 is a. detailelevation of a portion of a lever in part broken away to show the construction more clearly; and

Fig. 4 is a sectional elevation of a portion of another embodiment of certain features.

Similar reference characters refer to simila'r parts throughout the several views of the drawing.

Referring now to Fig. 1 of the drawing, there are shown a pair of lenses resting within rims 11. Interposed between these rims is a bridge 12; and as the construction at each side of the eyeglass frame is substantially identical, that on one side only will be described in detail. y

The bridge 12 comprises a portion 13 leading to the rim or lens support 11. It may t.v here be noted that the term lens support is used throughout ina broad sense to denote lany form of device for supporting a lens in position, although the specific form here shown is that of a rim encircling the lens. It may also be notedv that the term eyeglasses is broadly used to comprehend not only devices of this sort supported from the nose only, but those of the so-called spectacle type having supports at the outer ends ofthe lenses.

Extending downwardly and thence outwardly from the bridge is a part 14 connected at 15 to the rim. In a sense, this may be consideredy as a portion of thebridge.

R-igidlyconnected with the rim and extending laterally therefrom is a projection or lug 16 which' is preferably connected at its outer end with the part 14. vThis lug 16 has formed thereon 'a bearing vsurface 17 preferably beveled or inclined upwardly and inwardly as shown. f Likewise extending laterally from the lens support at a position upwardly spaced from the lug 16 is alug 18 having a bearing surface 19 substantially registering 4with the bearing surface 17 and also preferably inclined upwardly and inwardly.

Passing between'the parts 16 and 18 is a lever 20 provided at its rear end withv any desired form of nose-engaging member 21, and at its forward'end with the usual fingergrip 22. At a portion of this lever embraced by the lugs 16 and 18 there is formed a hollow cylindrical portion 28 having thereon bearing surfaces 24: and 25 respectively fitting and coacting with the bearing surfaces 17 and 19'. It is understood that the beveled or inclined arrangement of these surfaces is slight so that the lever can be snapped in and out of position between the lugs 16 and 1,8.

Coiled within the barrel 23 is a spring 26, the lower end-of which rests within a slot 27 formed in the lever. The upper end of the spring passes through an axially elongated slot 28 and coacts with the rim or other stationary part of the frame as shown at 29. This spring is sowound and tensioned as to tend to swing thel nose-engaging member 21 in an inward direction or direction toward the nose, the movement being permitted by the kslot 28 and limited as by the stop surfacey 30.

A screw 31l passes downwardly through the lug 18 and is threaded intothe lug 16,

tending to add to the security of assemblyofthe parts andfif desired, 'to serve to vary the pressure upon the bearingV surfaces.

AS best lshown in Fig. 2 of the drawing, the portion 13 of the bridge is-preferably rearwardly curved totpermitready access to the screw 31.y y L f By the arrangement shown, thelens is firmly held inposition andthe swinging lever given a solid: support. Furthermore, the parts are so compactly disposed as to permit the use of large lenses without undue increase of the pupillary distance. The bridge construction is not only advantageous in the above respect buttends to enclose and shield the pivotal joint ofthe lever, and the `latter in turn encases and protects the springand bearing surfaces at the joint.` There areno unsightly. crevices tending to collect dirt and perspiration, and yet the parts may be assembled and taken apart with ease. Y

- In the construction shown in F igjl of the drawing, the lens 32 is held within a rimg33, the ends of which abut against'each other at 34. The lug-35 is formed upon; one end of the rimV andthe bridge 36 is provided with an enlargement 37 secured to the opposite end ofthe rim. Between these parts 35 and 37 is `fitted a lever 38provided with a spring 39 the construction `and Vaction of which will be clear from the description of i the embodiment shown in Fig.l y1 of the drawing.v4 'Passing upwardly through the lug 35 and threaded into the part 37 is a screw llOwhi'chv serves not only to aid in the security of attachment of the lever, but connects the two ends 'of the rim one to another.

Certain of the advantageous features of thefconstructionshown'in Fig; 1 are inherent'in that illustrated-.in Fig. 4 ofk the drawing.

It will thus be seen that there is providedy ing from said lens-supportingmeans, alever mounted 'upon said part, asere'w {extend- I two members lever comprising a hollow pivotal portion,

a spring'mounted within said hollow pivotal portionand tending to swin said lever, and a bridge connected with said lens-supportmg means above saidlever and having a portion rearwardly olisetto permit vaccess downwardly to said screw. i

3. n In eyeglass construction, in combination, lens-supporting means, a bridge extending tosaid lens-supporting means, a member4 extending from said bridge to said lenssupporting means at a point spaced'from its connection with said bridge,a member extending from 'said lens-supporting means at a point above said firstm'ember, and a swinglng lever pivotally mounted between said 4. In eyeglassxconstruction, in combinat1on, lens-supporting means, a bridge extendmg to saidV lens-supporting means, a member extending downwardly and inwardly from a point onsaid bridge to said lens-supportmg means and secured thereto at a point spaced from its connection with said bridge, a lever mounted upon said member,fand`a screw extending through said lleverinto said member, said'bridge having a portion rearwardly offset about the head of said screw to allow access to said screw in a downward direction.

- j 5.In eyeglas'sconstruction, in ycombination, lens-supporting means, abridge connectedto said lens-supporting means, a pair of parts projectingfrom said lens-support- -ing means, a swinging lever pivotally mounted between saidparts, and ascrew passing .through one of said parts and said lever and into the other o said parts, said bridge having a portion rearwardly offset about vthe head of the screw shaped to allow access to said screw in a downward direction.

i6. In eyeglass construction, in combination, lens-supporting means, a bridge extending to and secured to said lens-supporting means, a member extending downwardly and inwardly from a point on said bridge to said lens-supporting means and secured thereto at a point spaced from itsconnection with said bridge, a lever passing between said Vbridge and said member and provided with a hollow pivotal portion and pivotally connectedto said member iride endently of the bridge, and a spring enclose vWithin and conlll) Kal

nected to'said hollow portion and adapted to swing said lever.

7. In eyeglass construction, in combination, a lens-supporting member, a bridge extending to and connected to said lens-sup porting member, a member extending downwardly and inwardly from a point on saidl bridge to said lens-supporting member ata point spaced from the point of connection of said bridge and said lens-supporting member, a second member extending from said lens-supporting member below said bridge and above the bottom portion of said iirst mentioned member, a lever havinga barrel connected thereto, said barrel lying between said first member and saidsecond member, a spring enclosed within said barrel and adapted to swing said lever toward the nose orn the wearer, and a screw passing through said second member and said barrel and threaded into said first member.

8. In eyeglass construction, in combination, a lens-supporting ymember; a bridge having an arched central portion, thence extending downwardly in a gradual curve and upwardly, connected to said lens-retaining member; a member secured to said bridge at substantially said downwardly extending portion thereof, extending downwardly substantially at right angles to said bridge, i

thence inwardly toward said lens-retaining member at a point spaced from and below the point at which said bridge is connected to said lens-retaining member; and a swinging lever mounted between said bridge and said member and having secured thereto a nose engaging member. Y

9. In eyeglass construction, in 'combina-y tion, lens-supporting means, ya bridge connected to said lens-supporting means, a member extending downwardly and inwardly from a point on said bridge to said lens-supporting means and secured thereto at a point spaced from its connection with said bridge, a lever passing between said bridge and said member, a member extending through said lever, andl means rigidly supporting said lever upon each side thereof independently lof the bridge.

lO. In eyeglass construction, in combination, lens-supporting means, a bridge con nected to said lensesupporting means, a member extending downwardly and inwardly from a point on said bridge to said lens-sup-y i porting means and secured thereto at a point spaced from its connection with said bridge, a lever passing between said bridge and said member and provided with a hollow pivotal portion, a spring enclosed within and connected to said hollow portion and adapted to swing said lever, a member extending lthrough Vsaid lever, and means rigidly sup-l porting said lever upon each side thereor` independently of the bridge.

l1. In eyeglass construction, in combina tion, lens-supporting means, a bridge extending to said lens-supporting means, a member extending downwardly from a pointon said bridge to said lens-supporting means at a point spaced from its connection with said bridge, a lever passing between said bridge and said member and provided with a hollow pivotal portion, a spring enclosed within said hollowL portion and connected thereto to swing said lever, a member passing through said lever, and means rigidly supporting said lever independently of the bridge, sa'id bridge having a rearwardly offset portion about the head of said last-mentioned member to allow access thereto.

In testimony whereof, I have signed my name to this specification this 25th day of ctober, 1928.

GEORGE E. NERNEY.

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